Archive for 'Crisp'

Earlier this month, we reported that Crisp‘s 3rd Ave. location closed after their lease ran out. We were sad to see them go, but before it can really set in, Crisp Express opened this week on 43rd St. (btw 3rd+Lex), where Simply Sliders used to be. Their menu looks smaller than before (it is ‘Express’ after all), offering a few different falafel sandwiches, hummus, and salads. So we’ve got out gourmet falafel back in Midtown East, but we’ve lost our sliders. Are you happy with the trade?

Got some bad news from a couple of tipsters at the end of last week. Gourmet falafel chain Crisp has closed it’s 3rd Ave. location (btw 43rd+44th). According to the sign seen above, their lease is up and they’ve chosen not to renew it. Sure, their falafel was overpriced, but some of their more inventive offerings were pretty damned good (I personally enjoyed the Africa), and it was one of the only places I know of that let you add french fries inside your sandwich. Their location on West 40th is still open, but they’ll be missed over on 3rd.

Crisp, which is no longer on wheels, announced new menu items recently, adding a “v-grill” menu to their regular swath of falafel offerings. In addition to five kinds of v-grill burgers, they’re offering three varieties of v-grill wraps all priced at $7.95: shwarma (v-grilled strips, hummus. Israeli salad, grilled onions and tahini), kati (v-grilled masala kebobs, greens, grape tomatoes and curry mango coconut sauce), and carne asada (v-grilled steak, greens, corn salsa, grilled peppers, onions, cheddar cheese and chipotle aioli). I suppose this is an attempt to differentiate themselves from Pocketful, but I’m not yet sold that “v-grilled strips” will get me in the door. Anyone been to Crisp lately and try these yet? Let us know how it is in the comments.

Back in January we reported that the Crisp on Wheels Truck was splitting with the growing fast food chain of the same name. Just a few weeks after that, the truck was re-branded as The Pocketful with no trace of the Crisp logo anywhere. I’ve walked by this new truck on multiple occasions along Sixth Avenue and see people lining up for free samples trying to figure out what happened to Crisp on Wheels.

We’ve always been a fan of Crisp and their unique brand of falafel, first from their original store on 3rd Ave. to their 40th street expansion and then finally at their food truck. But all is not well in the Crisp empire. We got a tip from Lunch’er sparmethecensor that the Koreatown location of Crisp on 32nd Street between B’way and 6th, which opened barely a year ago, is now closed. Maybe they should have tried serving a kimchi topped falafel?

But the real shocker came in in the form of an email to everybody on Crisp’s mailing list…

Good news for Herald Square area lunchers in need of reliable falafel options. There’s a Crisp that’s opening on 32nd between Broadway and 6th Ave, just a block over from the edge of K-town. I took a quick peek through the glass, and it looks like the restaurant is nearly operational, so expect an opening soon…

Get a Crisp Signature Sandwich for Just $6:Crisp tweeted that a holiday deal they were running will continue this week. You can either print out the email linked to in their tweet and show it to the cashier, which gets you any signature sandwich for $6, or BuyItOnMe users may scan the QR code to activate a $5 a signature sandwich coupon. This offer is for restaurant locations only, not Crisp On Wheels.

Last month we reported that Crisp, the unique falafel place with 3 locations in New York City, would be launching a food truck. It took a little longer than they expected (it always does) but we’re hearing that they are finally ready to go and the truck will soft launch on Thursday in the Flatiron District (on 26th and Park) serving up falafel and hummus bowls. Follow them on twitter @crisponwheels or on the ML Twitter Tracker for more details.

The grass is always greener? Earlier today Schnitzel & Things, the super popular schnitzel mobile that spends a lot of time in Midtown, became the latest food truck to open a brick and mortar storefront (on 3rd Ave. btw. 45+46th). But the trend is going in the opposite direction as well… we just got word that Crisp, the unique falafel chain with two locations in Midtown (and one Downtown), will be launching its very own food truck next month. “Crisp on Wheels” will offer falafel “handbag” sandwiches, hummus bowls and Amanzi teas, and plans to hit the streets on April 4th. The plan is too soft open in areas like Soho and the Upper East Side, before trying to hit up the mean streets of Midtown (always a good plan) and, naturally, you can track their progress via Twitter and Facebook. Unlike schnitzel or Korean tacos, there isn’t really a shortage of good falafel sandwiches in New York City, but the move from brick and mortar to food truck seems to have worked for Taim…